Community Engagement Director

PURPOSE: Safe Journeys is seeking a highly collaborative individual that works across all Safe Journeys programs, reporting directly to the Executive Director. The Community Engagement Director is responsible for educating and engaging our community about the issue of domestic and sexual violence, the prevention of domestic and sexual violence, and Safe Journeys’ response and services. This role builds community awareness and partnerships to ensure broad support for Safe Journeys. This position supervises the prevention and community educators and is responsible overall for Safe Journeys’ volunteer recruitment and management efforts. Further, the Community Engagement Director supports the Operations Director with fundraising and other donor development efforts.

MISSION STATEMENT:

To empower survivors of domestic and sexual violence and work to end such violence in our communities.

FUNCTIONS:

Provides strategic direction, program planning, evaluation, implementation, and oversight of prevention education and volunteer services.

• Responsible for the design, delivery, supervision, and evaluation of community-based prevention and awareness programs, ensuring they are rooted in equity and inclusion of survivors.
• Coordinates development and implementation of agency prevention plan, consistent with agency and funder requirements.
• Coordinates development and implementation of agency volunteer program, consistent with agency and funder requirements.
• With Operations and Executive Directors, hires, trains, schedules, supervises, and evaluates program staff and volunteers to ensure compliance with laws, agency policies and procedures, and funder requirements.
• With the support of the Operations Director, manages the performance of staff. Provides regular assessments that include performance feedback to staff members and any needed developmental and/or corrective action to improve unacceptable performance.
• Provides guidance and mentorship to program staff. Works with and inspires staff to develop, report, and meet goals and programmatic outcomes.
• Provides prevention education and awareness direct services, as needed.
• Provides volunteer program services, as needed.
• Monitors prevention education and volunteer program to assure compliance with funder requirements, including but not limited to ICADV and ICASA.
• Monitors client and agency records for timeliness and compliance with funder requirements, including but not limited to ICADV and ICASA.
• Evaluates productivity within programs by staff person, volunteers, and funding sources.
• Ensures accurate data and timely documentation for agency and funding source reports and ensures confidentiality of agency information.
• Oversees quality of service design and delivery in accordance with agency philosophy and collaborates with other agency departments to provide a seamless, unified approach to service delivery.
• Enforces agency policies in a client centered, trauma informed manner.

Collaboratively leads development of community awareness, including planning, evaluation, implementation, and oversight.

• Coordinates development and implementation of agency awareness plan in a collaborative manner with other agency leadership, consistent with agency and funder requirements.
• Responsible for the development, implementation, and oversight of agency communications with the community, including through traditional media, social media, quarterly newsletter, and website. This includes development of a consistent brand identity and development of effective collateral materials, both printed and digital.
• Builds meaningful, strategic, lasting partnerships and collaborations to end domestic and sexual violence within LaSalle and Livingston Counties.
• Grows Safe Journeys’ outreach, community presence, engagement, and prevention work.
• Participates in local efforts to improve prevention of domestic and sexual violence.
• Serves as agency delegate or representative on appropriate state and local coalitions.
• Coordinates agency participation in awareness and community events.
• Promotes the agency, as needed, through public presentations, media interviews, written materials, and special events.
• Participates in various community outreach events to network with community service providers and spread awareness of Safe Journeys’ programs and services.
• Actively participates in one or more local service clubs, such as Kiwanis, Rotary, Jaycees.
• Collaborates with all agency leadership to provide and enhance community education efforts and establish networks with appropriate referral and partner agencies.
• Monitors and orders public education materials.

Fundraising and donor development.

• Supports the Operations Director in coordinating development and implementation of fundraising and donor development plan to support planned sustainability and agency growth, consistent with agency and funder requirements.

Directs and facilitates continual improvement of processes, policies, and practices.

• With the Executive Director and other senior management, establishes and implements priorities and strategies.
• Utilizes expertise to provide guidance and support to staff regarding delivery of service.
• Stays up-to-date on current developments and legislation in the fields of domestic and sexual violence.
• Provides systems advocacy and training related to prevention and awareness.
• Participates in agency on-call systems.
• Work as a team player and close collaborator with other program directors. This includes providing back-up for other programs and program directors.

Other staff responsibilities:

• Participates in the manager-on-call rotation (as necessary).
• Provides training to staff and volunteers.
• Facilities compilation of data to meet funding requirements.
• Facilitates scheduling and coordination of training for volunteers, consistent with funder requirements.
• Assists with grant writing.
• Strong understanding of agency and relevant funder and grant policies and procedures, including allowability of costs and documentation requirements.
• Participates in staff, management, and Board meetings, as appropriate.
• Participates in professional trainings as required by agency and funders.
• Communicates with staff and the public in a manner that reflects respect and equality.
• Assures ethical conduct in business, marketing, service delivery, and professional practice.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

This position exercises supervisory responsibilities.

EXPERIENCE AND OTHER QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s degree in human services field (including Social Work, Psychology, Crisis Counseling, Counseling, and Therapy), Communications, Marketing, Criminal Justice, Public Administration, Education, or Child Development or equivalent field or experience in the field. Master’s degree preferred.
• Experience in crisis intervention and staff supervision preferred.
• Knowledge of domestic and sexual violence programs and funders.
• Effective oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to set limits and priorities.
• Excellent attention to detail and timeliness.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to serve individuals from diverse cultures and backgrounds.
• Ability to work independently and as a cooperative team member.
• Must have 40 hours of domestic violence and 40 hours of sexual assault trainings or complete agency training program before interacting with clients or client-related information.
• Ability to pass DCFS and criminal background checks at all times.
• Reliable automobile, current license and insurance.
• Basic knowledge of the Microsoft suite of products. Knowledge of Canva and/or Publisher preferred.
• Commitment to Safe Journeys’ mission and values, including intersectional equity and ending domestic and sexual violence.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Unless exempted by the Americans with Disabilities Act, all persons hired for this position are required to perform the following essential functions:

1. Lift up to 50 lbs. on an as-needed basis;

2. Perform the basic life operational functions of talking, hearing, vision on a frequent basis;

3. Perform repetitive motions (i.e. computer keying and/or dialing phone) on a frequent basis;

4. Stand, walk, sit, climb stairs, reach with hands and arms, stoop, kneel, and crouch on a frequent basis;

5. Ability to drive a car or access to other transportation.

This position requires exposure to the following environmental factors:

1. Normal office conditions;

2. Exposure to variable noise levels;

3. Environment may include possible exposure to communicable illnesses; and

4. Traveling in an automobile in various weather conditions.

Studies have shown that women, nonbinary folks, and People of Color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every single one of the qualifications as described in a job description. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organzation and we are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job. That candidate may be one who comes from a background less traditional to our field of work, and that's okay. We would strongly encourage you to apply, even if you don't believe you meet every one of the qualifications described. We are an equal opportunity employer and we strongly encourage people of color to apply for all of our open positions.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $50,000.00 - $60,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• 403(b)
• 403(b) matching
• Dental insurance
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday
• On call

Application Question(s):

• Do you currently reside in LaSalle or Livingston County or are willing to relocate to this area?

Education:

• Bachelor's (Required)

License/Certification:

• Driver's License (Required)

Work Location: In person